Gender Equality in Financing Energy for All

Gender Equality in Financing Energy for All

Author:Thorsen, K., Cecelski, E., Wiik, C., and Oparaocha, S. (2011)

In financing energy for all, Norway will work through its foreign policy and its development cooperation to empower women in the energy sector. Norway is seeking partners who have adopted global commitments on gender equality and women’s human rights and who see the benefits of a gender-responsive approach to financing energy access for all. Gender-responsive energy financing can contribute to basic human rights and economic efficiency, and create gains for private investors. Budgetary allocations in the energy sector have the power to transform gender inequalities and ensure more efficient and sustainable solutions. This transformation can come about through targeting increases in energy access that aim to create more time and physical energy that can be used to enhance quality of life and productive work, to improve health and education and to provide both women and men with opportunities for income earning, participation and decision-making. The planning and governance of energy and climate change policies and programmes by government institutions, civil society and the private sector are important in promoting gender-responsive energy financing.